- The Sweet Smell of Lust -
Asalaamu'alaikum Wa'rahamtulahi Wa'barkatahu dear respected brothers and sisters.
Alhumdulilah i am very pleased to let you all know that we will be starting a series of posts on the Adornment of Women on the blog, addressing issues we find so common in society but forget to find out the Islamic perspective (may be the brothers could do something similar for men). Yes the posts are lengthy, but need to be in order to get across the whole picture. The post is as follows...
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As one walks down the street, one can smell the piercing smell of perfume, a bit of Chanel here, a bit of Lacoste there and a bit of Givenchy everywhere.
Sisters are lathering themselves in so much perfume, layering one on top of the other, so much so that you can smell them miles off!!!
Sisters, we are too keen to waste our money on perfumes, indulging in Haraam, we forget our brothers and sisters around the world who can’t even afford to get some water just to perform ablution or ghusl!
Sisters, we wear hijaab as a means of covering our beauty, because this beauty is something pure, rare, special and only for our husbands’ insha’Allah, but that very beauty is put again on show via perfume. It may not be on show through the eyes but through the sense of smell!
Such is perfume that when smelt, even if you didn’t see the woman wearing it, or even as ugly as her physical appearance may be, to one’s mind, illustrious images are created of how beautiful and sexy she must be and naturally many feelings are aroused.
By the way, recently biologists have discovered a sexual gland in the nose, i.e., there is a direct connection between the sense of smell and the provocation of desire. If this is true, then it is one of the signs that prove even to the kuffaar how precise are the rulings of this Shari’ah, Subhan’Allah which came to preserve chastity and to block the ways that lead to immorality.
My dear sisters, we should be a means to protect our brothers and vice versa, we shouldn’t make it harder for them then it already is by applying perfume outside the home. (Perfume even in the home should only be applied amongst Mahram men.)
Furthermore sisters, wearing perfume outside was not the practice of the Umm-ul-Mu’mineen (Mothers of the Believers), i.e. the wives of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, wearing ‘Atr and perfume was something intimate and special only for the husband. Therefore applying perfumes and ‘Atr outside the home is an imitation of the kuffaar women, as in society it is their practice.
As one walks down the street, one can smell the piercing smell of perfume, a bit of Chanel here, a bit of Lacoste there and a bit of Givenchy everywhere.
Sisters are lathering themselves in so much perfume, layering one on top of the other, so much so that you can smell them miles off!!!
Sisters, we are too keen to waste our money on perfumes, indulging in Haraam, we forget our brothers and sisters around the world who can’t even afford to get some water just to perform ablution or ghusl!
Sisters, we wear hijaab as a means of covering our beauty, because this beauty is something pure, rare, special and only for our husbands’ insha’Allah, but that very beauty is put again on show via perfume. It may not be on show through the eyes but through the sense of smell!
Such is perfume that when smelt, even if you didn’t see the woman wearing it, or even as ugly as her physical appearance may be, to one’s mind, illustrious images are created of how beautiful and sexy she must be and naturally many feelings are aroused.
By the way, recently biologists have discovered a sexual gland in the nose, i.e., there is a direct connection between the sense of smell and the provocation of desire. If this is true, then it is one of the signs that prove even to the kuffaar how precise are the rulings of this Shari’ah, Subhan’Allah which came to preserve chastity and to block the ways that lead to immorality.
My dear sisters, we should be a means to protect our brothers and vice versa, we shouldn’t make it harder for them then it already is by applying perfume outside the home. (Perfume even in the home should only be applied amongst Mahram men.)
Furthermore sisters, wearing perfume outside was not the practice of the Umm-ul-Mu’mineen (Mothers of the Believers), i.e. the wives of the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, wearing ‘Atr and perfume was something intimate and special only for the husband. Therefore applying perfumes and ‘Atr outside the home is an imitation of the kuffaar women, as in society it is their practice.
It was narrated that Zaynab, the wife of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood, said: The Messenger of Allaah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said to us: “If one of you attends the mosque, let her not put on perfume.”
[Narrated by Muslim (443)].
&
“…so A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha went to the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam and put on her khimar (a nice/special jilbab) and put on Safr on (the equivalent of what is known now days as perfume) on her hijaab/khimar and wet it with water and she brushed water over it so that the smell would come out more and she came to the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam that night and sat (intimately) close to him…”
[Muhammad Al-Shareef: How To Be An Outstanding Wife.]
My dear sisters, pay close attention to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam:
“It was narrated from Abu Moosa Radi Allahu Anhu that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an adulteress.”
[Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi]
al-Mannaawi said in Fayd al-Qadeer (1/355):
[Narrated by Muslim (443)].
&
“…so A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha went to the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam and put on her khimar (a nice/special jilbab) and put on Safr on (the equivalent of what is known now days as perfume) on her hijaab/khimar and wet it with water and she brushed water over it so that the smell would come out more and she came to the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam that night and sat (intimately) close to him…”
[Muhammad Al-Shareef: How To Be An Outstanding Wife.]
My dear sisters, pay close attention to the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam:
“It was narrated from Abu Moosa Radi Allahu Anhu that the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an adulteress.”
[Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi]
al-Mannaawi said in Fayd al-Qadeer (1/355):
“She is an adulteress” means: because of that she is exposed to zina, and implementing the means that lead to it and calling those who seek it. Hence she is called an adulteress in a metaphorical sense, because desire may prevail and real zina may take place. Her passing by men is likened to her sitting in their path so that they pass by her. End quote.
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The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
"Any woman who applies perfume and passes by a group of people who may smell her perfume, is an adulterous woman."
[Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i]
In the time of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, such were the Sahaabee (the companions of the prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam), that when the men smelt the women/a woman with perfume coming to the mosque, the Sahaabee such as Umar bin Al-Khattab Radi Allahu Anhu would chase her away, throwing pebbles, because of the Fitnah perfume presents.
Abu Hurairah said that:
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The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
"Any woman who applies perfume and passes by a group of people who may smell her perfume, is an adulterous woman."
[Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i]
In the time of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, such were the Sahaabee (the companions of the prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam), that when the men smelt the women/a woman with perfume coming to the mosque, the Sahaabee such as Umar bin Al-Khattab Radi Allahu Anhu would chase her away, throwing pebbles, because of the Fitnah perfume presents.
Abu Hurairah said that:
A woman passed by him smelling strongly of scent. He called to her: "O slave of the powerful, are you going to the mosque?" She said that she was. He said: "Go back and wash it off. I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: 'Any woman who goes to the mosque wearing perfume will not have her prayer accepted by Allah; first she should go back home and have a bath [to wash it off].'
&
In Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
"Any woman who uses some scent should not be present with us during the night prayer".
&
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also said:
"Do not prevent woman from praying at the mosques of Allah. And they are to go out unperfumed”.
[Ahmad and Abu Dawood].
Our ultimate role models besides the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, for the women are the Umm-ul-Mu’mineen; the Mothers of the believers and of course the perfectly created women of Jannah: the Hoor al-Ayn.
With both, the nature of these women were/are such that they would only put on perfume/adorn themselves for their husbands in the privacy of their own homes where no stranger could be present. This is clearly evident from the previous narration of A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha going towards the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam.
&
In Mishkat, (volume three it says on pages 83-97): The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said: "If a houri looks down from her abode in heaven onto the earth, the whole distance (space) shall be filled with light and fragrance. A houri's face is more radiant than a mirror, and one can see one's image in her cheek. The marrow of her shins is visible to the eyes".
&
The Hour-al-Ayn do not want wives to annoy their husbands, since the houris will also be the spouses [i.e. wives] of the husbands in the afterlife; Ibn-i-Majah vol.3:2014 p.212;
My Dear sisters what do we learn from these ahadith and narrations? That the women of this Dunya and the women of Jannah merely hasten to please only their husbands, no one else, the wearing of perfume is a form of pleasure only for the husband.
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) has said:
“Marry pleasant and fertile women (capable of conceiving children)…” The Hadith goes further to give some detailed description of the characteristics of the good wife, saying that “she is the one if her husband looks at her; he is pleased by her appearance”.
Perfume is part of that which is pleasing, my dear sisters!
Sisters like mentioned before, part of our role in society is to help our brothers in Islam to progress further and higher in Al-Islam. This meaning, helping them to lower their gaze, as they help us to do so as well.
Now dear sisters, imagine being head-to-toe intoxicated in perfume, and walking down the street, on the street a brother is pacing towards you (as he may be late for Jam’ah or something the like), as he walks past you, despite only for a split second, your perfume reaches the brother and he can smell your scent, despite being a good practicing brother in the Deen, the brother may be aroused, because such is the smell of perfume that anyone of us can be the target of attraction to the opposite sex! (As the biologists have now realized…Subhan’Allah! What took them so long?)
(Next thing you know, your getting stalked, getting odd proposals of marriage and being chased down the street, with some bearded brother in a thoub declaring his love you!)
Subhan’Allah! As far fetched as this sounds, we live in a world where all this is possible because the Shaytaan will not rest till we bite from the fruit of temptation, our own very nafs (desires) will keep going until we commit a haraam, such as ZINA!!! …All because of the ‘Sweet smell of LUST’.
&
In Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:
"Any woman who uses some scent should not be present with us during the night prayer".
&
The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also said:
"Do not prevent woman from praying at the mosques of Allah. And they are to go out unperfumed”.
[Ahmad and Abu Dawood].
Our ultimate role models besides the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam, for the women are the Umm-ul-Mu’mineen; the Mothers of the believers and of course the perfectly created women of Jannah: the Hoor al-Ayn.
With both, the nature of these women were/are such that they would only put on perfume/adorn themselves for their husbands in the privacy of their own homes where no stranger could be present. This is clearly evident from the previous narration of A’ishah Radi Allahu Anha going towards the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam.
&
In Mishkat, (volume three it says on pages 83-97): The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said: "If a houri looks down from her abode in heaven onto the earth, the whole distance (space) shall be filled with light and fragrance. A houri's face is more radiant than a mirror, and one can see one's image in her cheek. The marrow of her shins is visible to the eyes".
&
The Hour-al-Ayn do not want wives to annoy their husbands, since the houris will also be the spouses [i.e. wives] of the husbands in the afterlife; Ibn-i-Majah vol.3:2014 p.212;
My Dear sisters what do we learn from these ahadith and narrations? That the women of this Dunya and the women of Jannah merely hasten to please only their husbands, no one else, the wearing of perfume is a form of pleasure only for the husband.
The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) has said:
“Marry pleasant and fertile women (capable of conceiving children)…” The Hadith goes further to give some detailed description of the characteristics of the good wife, saying that “she is the one if her husband looks at her; he is pleased by her appearance”.
Perfume is part of that which is pleasing, my dear sisters!
Sisters like mentioned before, part of our role in society is to help our brothers in Islam to progress further and higher in Al-Islam. This meaning, helping them to lower their gaze, as they help us to do so as well.
Now dear sisters, imagine being head-to-toe intoxicated in perfume, and walking down the street, on the street a brother is pacing towards you (as he may be late for Jam’ah or something the like), as he walks past you, despite only for a split second, your perfume reaches the brother and he can smell your scent, despite being a good practicing brother in the Deen, the brother may be aroused, because such is the smell of perfume that anyone of us can be the target of attraction to the opposite sex! (As the biologists have now realized…Subhan’Allah! What took them so long?)
(Next thing you know, your getting stalked, getting odd proposals of marriage and being chased down the street, with some bearded brother in a thoub declaring his love you!)
Subhan’Allah! As far fetched as this sounds, we live in a world where all this is possible because the Shaytaan will not rest till we bite from the fruit of temptation, our own very nafs (desires) will keep going until we commit a haraam, such as ZINA!!! …All because of the ‘Sweet smell of LUST’.
Sisters I’m not saying we should deprive our selves of perfume completely, for those of us married, Alhumdulilah it should be for the husband, for those of us still looking/single so forth, our maternal home is a fine place to indulge ourselves (providing there are only women and Mahram men present, not at family gatherings with cousins and the like.)
Neither am I saying, go round college smelling of B.O, there are many FRAGRANCE-FREE deodorants!!!
Sisters, try to think back to a hadith I mentioned in a previous post about Allah disliking the squandering of money, now sisters ask yourself, how much does ONE perfume cost??? When researching average prices I came up with: £19.50 (Intimately Beckham), £39.00 (Britney Spears-Curious), £37.00 (Lolita Lempicka), & £49.00 (Joop Femme)!!! Subhan’Allah Wa bi Hamdi!!! Add another pound and you will have enough to pay for Qurbani, have enough to get a poor child in Baluchistan an E’id gift, pay for a water pump, that same money going so much more further and it is an HALAAL investment!!!
One can simply go to ZamZam or something and buy ‘Atr/’Itr for a mere £1.50.
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam praised musk.
At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated from Abu Said Radi Allahu Anhu that Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said about musk:
“It is the purest of all your perfumes”.
&
Al-Bukhari, Nasai and al-Tirmidhi narrated from Muhammad bin Ali, he said: I asked Aisha Radi Allahu Anha: “Did Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam used to put on a perfume?”.
She (Radi Allahu Anha) answered:
“Yes, with the best of the male perfume: Musk and ambergris”.
Now sisters this does not mean all the sisters start coming to college stylin’ it out with ‘Atr, saying “Oh it’s halal, I’m not wasting money, it’s the Sunnah, Mehak said so!” I am merely suggesting a cost-effective alternative for HOME-use!!! (the operant word being HOME!!!)
Sisters I would like to end this post, re-stating the one of the first hadith I mentioned:
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
“If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an ADULTERESS.”
[Narrated by Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi]
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Neither am I saying, go round college smelling of B.O, there are many FRAGRANCE-FREE deodorants!!!
Sisters, try to think back to a hadith I mentioned in a previous post about Allah disliking the squandering of money, now sisters ask yourself, how much does ONE perfume cost??? When researching average prices I came up with: £19.50 (Intimately Beckham), £39.00 (Britney Spears-Curious), £37.00 (Lolita Lempicka), & £49.00 (Joop Femme)!!! Subhan’Allah Wa bi Hamdi!!! Add another pound and you will have enough to pay for Qurbani, have enough to get a poor child in Baluchistan an E’id gift, pay for a water pump, that same money going so much more further and it is an HALAAL investment!!!
One can simply go to ZamZam or something and buy ‘Atr/’Itr for a mere £1.50.
Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam praised musk.
At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated from Abu Said Radi Allahu Anhu that Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said about musk:
“It is the purest of all your perfumes”.
&
Al-Bukhari, Nasai and al-Tirmidhi narrated from Muhammad bin Ali, he said: I asked Aisha Radi Allahu Anha: “Did Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam used to put on a perfume?”.
She (Radi Allahu Anha) answered:
“Yes, with the best of the male perfume: Musk and ambergris”.
Now sisters this does not mean all the sisters start coming to college stylin’ it out with ‘Atr, saying “Oh it’s halal, I’m not wasting money, it’s the Sunnah, Mehak said so!” I am merely suggesting a cost-effective alternative for HOME-use!!! (the operant word being HOME!!!)
Sisters I would like to end this post, re-stating the one of the first hadith I mentioned:
The Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam said:
“If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an ADULTERESS.”
[Narrated by Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi]
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Keep the Ummah in your du'as,
Wa'asalaam, Sister In Islam!
